Jeffrey Willis convicted in 2014 murder of jogger in Muskegon County

Jeffrey Willis stares into the gallery before opening statements begin in his murder trial on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at the Muskegon County Courthouse in Muskegon, Mich. A jury Thursday convicted him of first-degree murder.(Photo: Joel Bissell/Associated Press)

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Jurors quickly convicted a man Thursday of fatally shooting a woman who was jogging in 2014, one of two murder cases filed against him in Muskegon County.

Jeffrey Willis denied any role in Rebekah Bletsch’s death in Dalton Township, but jurors determined the evidence against him was strong. The jury met for less than two hours before returning a guilty verdict on the charge of first-degree murder.

The verdict brought sobs and cheers throughout the courtroom on Thursday afternoon. Emotions were raw as the reality of Rebekah's death struck her family members and the man responsible for the crime, sitting just feet away.

“We’re pleased that now we can heal up somewhat and move on,” said Nick Winberg, Bletsch’s father.

Willis faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance for parole when he's sentenced on Dec. 18. Two other cases still are pending, including the 2013 murder of a Muskegon-area gas station clerk whose body hasn’t been found.

He was arrested in 2016 when a teenager said he tried to kidnap her. The arrest jump-started investigations of the Bletsch homicide and the disappearance of Jessica Heeringa.

A pistol, rope, chains, handcuffs and syringes were found in Willis’ van. The gun later was identified as the weapon used to kill Bletsch. Police also found a computer file titled “VICS” with Bletsch’s initials and her date of death.

“I’ve never seen pure evil, but the defendant to me is pure evil,” prosecutor D.J. Hilson told jurors. “Not only does he have the willingness to lie, but he has no problem killing people.”

Willis surprised the courtroom Wednesday by testifying in his own defense. He tried to pin Bletsch’s death on a cousin whom he claimed had used his gun.

But in his closing argument, Prosecutor DJ Hilson said that both Willis' and Bletsch's DNA was found on a pair of gloves in a tool box in Willis' van — but not Kevin Bluhm's.

Defense attorney Fred Johnson said Willis isn’t “likable,” but he urged jurors to set that aside and acquit him.

Relatives of Rebekah Bletsch could be seen sobbing and shaking following the verdict. Neither Bletsch's sisters nor her mother wanted to speak on Thursday but they said through tears, it was all so overwhelming.